Tuesday, March 07, 2006

Support from Lord Alton of Liverpool

Lord Alton of Liverpool, Independent Crossbench Peer, has sent us this message:

I have opposed legislation like the Religious Hatred laws, not because I think that people should be indifferent to the offence caused when we pour vitriol on someone else's cherished beliefs, but because I oppose further restrictions of free speech. Not to do so would be a gross betrayal of those who, in previous generations, sacrificed their lives for the liberties we enjoy today. We should be particularly mindful that it is always much easier for Governments to impose restrictions than it is to subsequently remove them

Statement of Principle

The strength and survival of free society and the advance of human knowledge depend on the free exchange of ideas. All ideas are capable of giving offence, and some of the most powerful ideas in human history, such as those of Galileo and Darwin, have given profound religious offence in their time.
The free exchange of ideas depends on freedom of expression and this includes the right to criticise and mock.
We assert and uphold the right of freedom of expression and call on our elected representatives to do the same.
We abhor the fact that people throughout the world live under mortal threat simply for expressing ideas and we call on our elected representatives to protect them from attack and not to give comfort to the forces of intolerance that besiege them.